GOD IS COMMITTED

Introduction

TURN IN YOUR BIBLES TO JOHN 13:36-38

THEME: “GOD IS COMMITTED”

Perhaps your blessed enough to have some great examples of commitment in your life…

As the world becomes more and more self interested…more and more self centered, we always create an escape route in our relationships, our jobs, our church. WE ARE ALWAYS SURE WE HAVE A PLAN B.

“Unless commitment is made, there are only promises and hopes … but no plans.” -Peter Drucker God has more than promises and hopes for his children…He is committed Philippians 1:6 “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” God’s promise to finish the work He began in us cannot be deterred by our mistakes and shortcomings. God’s faithfulness to us, guaranteed by His grace, will carry us through until the day of Jesus Christ (Phil 1:6)

We see this truth illustrated in the Life of the Apostle Peter. Simon Peter is one of Jesus’ first disciples and later becomes the spokesman of the Twelve And leader of the early church. Jesus, upon meeting Peter for the first time beheld him, and said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.” but Peters ability to live up to it is often in doubt in the Gospels. Peter’s rebuke of the Lord , his falling asleep in the garden, his attack of Malchus with a sword, and his denial of Jesus all support this and yet throughout the life of Peter we find a reoccurring theme…mainly a GOD WHO WOULD NOT LEAVE HIM NOR FORSAKE HIM. This morning I would like to look at Peters denial of Jesus prior to the crucifixion to the restoration of peter there on the shore of the sea of Tiberias. This was without question the biggest failure in the life of Peter and yet even through it all we see plainly the commitment of God to his children.

1.God is Committed Even When We Are Not

John 13:36–38 “Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards. Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake. Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.” Matthew 26:69–75 “Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.” 1. But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest 2.And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man 3. Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. Boy this was a major mess up…I mean not only did he deny Jesus before all of these people he even began to curse and swear to drive the point home! Imagine if Gods commitment to his children was in direct proportion to our commitment to him. If you have been a Christian for any length of time you have probably came across some teaching that would almost suggest this very idea and yet, The bible is full of examples with would indicate the exact opposite. Imagine when the prodigal son arrived back home that his father told him he was not allowed back in....what if he told him he had went too far and that there was no coming back? Peters heart was full of guilt and shame. He was at his lowest and did not believe he could be used of God at all much less be a leader of the early church. When Peter went out and wept bitterly you can be assured that he had all of the same feelings that we experience as a child of God when we have failed in our commitment. All of the negative thoughts concerning himself came flooding into his heart and mind and it wasn’t long before he was convinced that he was no longer of use for God. He was a no good sinner who couldn’t stay out of his own way long enough to be useful to anyone! Child of God, I hope you understand the futility of this thought process! Right after our great commission from the Lord, our God tells us the most comforting truth...” Matthew 28:20 “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

2.God is Committed Even When We Go Back

John 21:3 “Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.” Years ago, Peter “forsook all” to follow Jesus (Luke 5:11). But even so, he was going to try to go back to fishing again. At this time perhaps Peter was already thinking of going back into business again. If so, the results of that night’s efforts were not encouraging. The fish stayed far away from Peter’s net, nor could Peter for all his skill coax them anywhere near. There is nothing more miserable than knowing the will of God for your life and doing something else…. Peter had just spent three years hearing the words of heaven, and seeing the miracles of the God-man and yet he makes the decision to go back to what he knew before .....As we just pointed out Peter was of the mindset that he was no longer qualified for Gods use…He may not have spoken this openly but in his heart he was convinced that he should just go back to what he thought was easier and what was familiar. Mark 16:1–7 “And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.” Do you ever read yourself into the pages of scripture? Don’t you know that the same love that Jesus had for peter is the same he has for you? Just as he knew where peter was in his heart, he knows where you are in your heart…some of you believe the Lord is done with you because you may not have been commited to him as much as you ought to…you may have turned back in your heart....but I want you to know you mine as well plug your name in here because he is just as concerned about YOU.... EXAMPLE OF AUSTIN IN A&P School

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3.God is Committed To The END

John 21:15–22 “So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me” We know that Jesus is making an immediate connection the Peters denial of him because of his initial question, “lovest thou me more than these?” Peter, do you remember when you, in front of all of the disciples, made your bold proclamation that you would lay down your life for my sake? Now, here is an opportunity in front of these men to express your heart. Peters Restoration: 1.Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. 2.Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee 3.Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Luke 22:31–34 “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

Conclusion - GOD IS COMMITTED TO THE END

Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone. Quotes from the book of 1 and 2 Peter

1 Peter 1:3–5 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” Illustration of Lamby